THE PEOPLE OF CHILE

Taranaki Daily News, 14 January 1933, Page 8

THE PEOPLE OF CHILE

“CULTURED AND BEAUTIFUL.” LOSS OF NITRATE MARKET. “The people of Chile are a cultured and up-to-date race. They do not wander round with a feather in their hair; they attend universities and own aeroplanes. They are a mixed people, the basic races being Spanish and Indian. There is a large addition of almost every race under the sun, England, Germany and France all being well represented.” So said Mr. W. Johnson, who is spending a few days at Eltham. Mr. Johnson, who has been teaching in Chile for 25 years, is now touring the world.

“The native Chileans are a fine race mentally and physically and their wo-, men are reputed to be the most beautiful in the world. Education is free to all, a statement which’implies not merely primary or secondary, but also university training. Painting, poetry, sculpture and music are part of everyone’s studies. Mr. Johnson knows of very many instances where children of the poorest parents have become leading men in the land. There was one boy whose father was a cab-driver; that boy is now a most prominent doctor. A body called the Poor Students’ Protective Association assists the poorer boys and girls with the expense of books and clothing. “In material development the country is second to none, and in recent years large factories under American, German and English management have sprung up. The present Government is taking energetic measures to revive the nitrate industry, and, although things are bad in Chile at present there is plenty of hope for the future. “Before the Great War,” said Mr. Johnson, “it was scarcely an exaggeration to say that the 4,000,000 inhabitants of Chile lived on the proceeds of the sale of nitrate of soda. This is used in the manufacture of gunpowder, and the war should have brought a boom in sales. But Britain blockaded Germany so effectively and German submarines kept such a watchful eye on the vessels trading in nitrate that Chile could find no market. Then the nations of the world learnt to manufacture ‘synthetic’ salitre and the demand for tne Chilean product was abolished.-

“The consequent financial distress disturbed the volcanic temperament of the Chileans, and from 1924 to the present day the political situation has been one of periodic turmoil. The president at the present time is Don Arturo. Alessandra—the man who was displaced by the big revolution of 1924. Then followed government by a commission, by a dictator, by a president, by two presidents, and finally by.the redoubtable Don Arturo again. Each new form of government implied, of course, a revolution of varying importance. “Chile’s other national source, of revenue is copper. The two largest copper mines of the world are within the boundaries of the republic, but at the present day Chilean copper is not worth very much. * “Chile, at. the present tirire is, with Argentina and Brazil, endeavouring to pacify the belligerent States of Bolivia and Peru, and their influence will eveni tually settle the dispute,” said Mr. Johnson. CRICKET MATCH AT TUNA. WIN FOR WAIPUKU TEAM. Four cricket teams have entered into a local tournament, the first match of which was plqyed at Tuna last weekend between Waipuku and Tuna. The four teams are Midhirst, Waipuku, Tuna and Denbigh Road. Both teams completed the second innings, but Tuna was three runs behind at 3.30, which was the time specified for the drawing of stumps, and so the game went to the visitors though Tuna, at the completion of the second innings, was in the lead by eight runs. Tuna scored 57 runs in the second innings in just over 20 minutes. Scores are:— Waipuku:—First innings: C. Fowler, b Henderson, 6; Honan, c Nicol, b Henderson, 1; A. Thompson junr., c Webster, b Henderson, 6; Kivell, st. Webster, b Henderson, 2; Colson, c Downs, b Henderson, 0; Jakes, st. Webster, b Henderson, 0; Wiggzell, st. Webster, b Henderson, 3; Vesty, not out, 4; A. 'Thompson senr., c and b Henderson, 0; Schumaker, b Edlin, 0; Cullen, c Long, b Edlin, 6; extras, 2; total, 30. Second innings: Fowler, b Edlin, 5; Honan, c Long, b Webster, 5; Thompson junr., b Edlin, 4; Kivell, b Long, 9; Colson, c Henderson, b Edlin, 1; Jakes, not out, 12; Wiggzell, b Webster, 2; Vesty, c Nicol, b Edlin, 2; Thompson senr., b .Webster, 1; Schumaker, b Webster, 2; Cullen, run out, 8; extras, 6; total, 57. ’. . ‘ . Tuna:—First innings: Edlin, 1.b.w., b Fowler, 11; Webster, 1.b.w., b Wiggzell, 4; Henderson, c Kivell, b Thomson i unr j> 3; Long, hit wicket, 1; Kovaleski, b Thompson junr., 0; Nicol, c Cullen, b Thompson, 0; Wellington, b Fowler, 0; Newlands, run out, 0; Downs, b Vesty, 8; L. Kovaleski, not out, 0; Bell, b Vesty, 0; extras, 1; total, 28. Second innings. Edlin, 1.b.w., b Honan, 8; Webster, c Fowler, 2; Henderson, b Wiggzell, 31; Long, c Thompson, b Wiggzell, 4; Kovaleski, b Honan, 1; Nicol, b Thompson, 10; Wellington, run out, 1; Newlands, b Honan, 5; Downs, b Wiggzell, 1; Kovaleski, not out, 0; Bell, b Wiggzell, 0, extras, 2; total, 67. Canterbury Athletes Leave.

The Canterbury University College athletic team which took part in the meeting at Stratford on Thursday, left for Wanganui yesterday afternoon. Cheers were given as the train departed.